Aromatherapy

 The information on this website has been obtained from sources deemed reliable, but it is not a replacement for medical advice.  Any person with a condition requiring medical attention should consult a qualified practitioner. 

 

What is aromatherapy?  Aromatherapy is a gentle healing art that uses essential oils to help relieve a wide variety of emotional and physical problems.  Aromatic an herb with a strong, volatile, and fragrant aroma is used to denote a general class of herbs in the Umbellifer family (anise, caraway, dill, fennel).  But aromatics can also include other herbs that have strong aromas and penetrating oils.  In this sense, aromatic is very similar to carminative.  Medicinally, aromatics are used to relieve flatulence, open nasal passages, or eliminate phlegm, although many people regard them merely as pleasant scents.  The medicinal definition of aromatic is not related to the chemical definition, which refers to a cyclic carbon compound with shared double bonds.  Some constituents of herbs, their essential oils for instance, are also aromatic in the chemical sense of the word. 

    The aromatic and healing qualities of herb oils make them very versatile.  The essential oil can be extracted from any herb, using one of the four methods. 

Steam Distillation:  Plants and water are placed in a closed vessel and heated to the boiling point.  The rising steam is collected and then condensed back into a liquid containing both the volatile plant oils (essential oils) and the carrier water (hydrosol).  The essential oil is then removed. 

Cold Pressed:  Used primarily for citrus oils, this process applies mechanical pressure to break the oils glands found in the outer skin of the fruit.  In commercial production a centrifuge (expellar) is used to create greater oil yields. 

Supercritical CO2 Extraction:  A process using carbon dioxide at low temperature, but high pressure, to distill oils.  The distillation time, temperature and pressure are precisely controlled yielding oil more complete in its constituents and more similar to the actual plant. 

Absolute:  This process uses hexane (or similar chemicals) to dissolve the oil out of the plant material.  The aromatic oil is then removed with alcohol and then the alcohol is removed by vacuum distillation.  Also called solvent extraction, it produces a greater yield of oil and thus lower prices.  The best example of this is Rose oil. 

Growing practices are as follows:

• Traditional: Standard farming methods
• Organic Practice:  Farmed without agricultural chemicals
• Organic Certified:  Certified by a know, reliable agency
• Wildcrafted:  Natural growth, no chemicals

  Are essential oils safe?  Oils are very safe if used properly.  They should always be diluted before application to the skin.  We do not recommend taking the oils internally even though the practice is quite common in many parts of Europe.  As with most medicinal products, greater care should be taken with the very young and very old. 

How do I get started?  Start with a good beginner’s book.  Try just a few oils or blends and see how you react to them.  Remember this:  We are all individuals and respond differently to the oils.  Not every thing you try is going to work perfectly all the time. Aromatherapy is not exact and predictable, but then again, neither is life itself. 

How can it benefit me?  While aromatherapy is complex, you can easily learn the basic principals and apply them immediately to help yourself and your family.  Here are a few ways to make aromatherapy work for you. 

   Inhalation:  When inhaled essential oils trigger the olfactory nerves, which are directly connected to our brain’s limbic system.  This is the part of our brain responsible for controlling our reactions, breathing, emotions and more.  Our bodies react to an aroma before it can even be identified.  Additionally, tiny molecules of essential oil enter the bloodstream through the normal respiratory process providing a secondary benefit similar to application. 

  Application:  Essential oils can be applied to your body in a number of different ways.  You can place a few drops of oil in a warm bath, or add the oil to carriers such as crams, massage oils and lotions, which are applied topically.  The oils are them absorbed through the skin of the application enters the lungs; you get a secondary benefit similar to inhalation.

If you are concerned about sensitivity to an essential oil, try a patch test.  This is a sure way to tell if you are allergic to an essential oil.  Just place a drop of the essential oil on your forearm.  (If you have very sensitive skin, first dilute the oil by half with a carrier).  Loosely cover the area, wait 24 hours.  No redness or burning means you are not sensitive to the essential oil. 

Some Inhalation Suggestions:  Make a spray mist.  Take a small spray top bottle, fill it with distilled water (or rose water) and add 5 to 10 drops of the essential oil.  The spray quickly adds a wonderful therapeutic fragrance to the air around you. 

Try a diffuser:  Diffusers can range from simple evaporative devices to sophisticated nebulizers that infuse the air with microscopic droplets of pure essential oil. 

Take a Sniff:  Simply open the bottle and inhale, or put a few drops on a tissue and sniff.  Almost every essential oil known will have some effect when used in this manner. 

Tent yourself:  Add 4 to 10 drops of essential oil to 1 quart of very hot water in a glass bowl.  Cover both head and bowl with a towel and deeply breathe the vapors.  Do not let your face touch the hot water.

• Bed Pillow: 1 drop
• Clothing: 1-2 drops
• Clothes Dryer: 2-3 drops on a cloth
• Cotton Ball: 1 drop
• Humidifier:  8 Drops in a pint of water
• Perfume oil:  60 drops per oz carrier
• Restrooms:  5 Drops in a saucer
• Sauna: 5 drops on rocks
• Tissue: 1-2 Drops

Here are some application suggestions. 

Take a bath:  Make this a warm bath because you want the oils to soak into your skin, not sweat out.  Add 6 to 12 drops of essential oil to a filed tub and swish the oil around with your hand so it is evenly dispersed. 

Use a compress: Add 4 to 15 drops of oil to a quart of warm or cold water.  (Warm for arthritis, cramps, and muscle pain.  Cold for headaches, tension, bruises).  Mix thoroughly and soak a washcloth or small towel.  Squeeze out excess water and apply to the trouble area. 

Rub your feet:  Add about 15 drops of oil or oil blend into one teaspoon of carrier.  Use Jojoba for best results.  Massage onto bottom of feet and let soak in (about 10-15 minutes).  Be extra careful when you stand or walk. 

Enjoy a massage:  Add 8 to 12 drops of essential oil to 1 ounce of massage oil for a general whole-body massage, or 15 to 20 drops for intensive action to relieve a specific, smaller area of discomfort.

• Creams & Lotions:  8-10 drops per oz.
• Face Oil:  2-15 drops per ounce.
• Facial Mist:  3-6 drops per quart
• Hot Tub:  15 drops
• Mouth Wash: 1 drop in 1 ounce water
• Perfume Oil:  60 drops per oz carrier
• Shampoo: 1-3 drops per ounce
• Shower Gel:  1-3 drops per ounce.

                                  Volume Conversions for common sizes.

•  1ml = 20 drops
• 5ml + 1/6 oz. Or 1 Teaspoon
• 10ml = 1/3 oz. Or 2 Teaspoons
• 15 ml = ½ oz. Or 1 Tablespoon
• 30 ml = 1 oz. Or 2 Tablespoons
• 50 ml = 1-2/3 oz.
• 120 ml = 4 oz. Or ½ cup

 How long will essential oils last? 

Most oils will last for 5 to 10 years if properly stored. In fact, many oils will actually improve with age.  Always keep the bottle tightly closed and store the bottle in a cool area.  The exception to this is citrus oils.  They will only last 4 to 6 months unless refrigerated.  But keep them in the fridge, and they will last for 2 to 3 years. 

How to calculate percentage dilutions the easy way.

Many times you’ll see a recipe that calls for a 2% solution or a 10%  mixture, or some type of dilution of essential oil and a carrier.  Unless you do this kind of math every day, it can be a bit intimidating.  Here’s an easy chart to help you figure percentage dilutions based on popular sizes of carriers. 

TO THIS MUCH CARRIER                 ADD THIS MUCH ESSENTIAL OIL TO MAKE THESE PERCENTAGES